E3 2016: Sony Shows Off ‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ in Extended Demo

After setting the tone of their annual E3 press conference with the first look at a new God of War game, Sony switched gears to show off one of their most anticipated new titles, Horizon Zero Dawn. The game made its debut at E3 2015 and was originally slated to release this fall, but was recently delayed until early next year in order for the development team at Guerrilla Games to ensure that their ambitious new IP will live up to expectations.

Set in a future where nature has reclaimed the remnants of a fallen civilization, Horizon Zero Dawn imagines a world where humans are no longer the dominant species – instead, highly advanced machines roam the landscape and impose their will. Players will control Aloy, an outcast young woman from a tribal society who has been trained to hunt and destroy the oppressive mechanical monstrosities.

Check out this extended gameplay demo from Horizon Zero Dawn, straight from the stage at Sony’s presentation, which finds Aloy tasked with stalking and defeating a “demon” that has been terrorizing local villages.

Every time I see new footage from Horizon Zero Dawn, I’m struck by how beautiful the landscapes are, and how much I love the overall aesthetic of this game. The open-world gameplay looks pretty solid – can’t wait to ride one of those freaky mechanical “horses” – and the Mass Effect-style dialogue wheel is an interesting addition. I can’t help but wonder if choices made during conversations will have any sort of significant impact on the game’s narrative, or if they’re just being included for the sake of variety.

Brent Hankins

Brent Hankins is a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle and co-host of the Drinks and Discourse podcast. He's also the proud owner of an Italian Greyhound named Sullivan. He's adorable (the dog, not the author).